After his studies at the conservatory of Bruges with Chris Dubois, Bart Naessens graduated as Master in Music (organ) at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven with Luc Ponet. There he focused not only on performance practice, but on creating a wide-ranged spectrum and a fundamental respect for the substantial beauty and profound power of art. After that he specialised in Paris in French symphonic organ music (where he obtained a higher diploma – the so called “Prix d’Excellence” – in this field in 2005 with the highest distinction and congratulations from the jury), he simultaneously started harpsichord studies in the class of Kris Verhelst and orchestra conducting studies with Edmond Saveniers and obtained both Master degrees with the highest distinctions. On this moment, he’s doing a doctoral study at the University of Leuven about ‘the claviorganum and its influence on the musical praxis from 16th-18th century’ with promotion in 2018.
Bart is frequently seen in Belgium and abroad with the most divergent programs as both keyboardplayer and conductor, ranging from early polyphonic music to creations of newly composed pieces. Because of this, he has been engaged by numerous eminent musicians and renowned (international) ensembles and orchestras, such as Ensemble Explorations, Il Gardellino, Ensemble Philidor, B’Rock Orchestra, Les Muffatti, Zefiro Torna, The Dutch Bachsociety, Collegium Vocale Gent, Cluj Symphony Orchestra, Currende (consort), Choir and Orchestra of the Royal La Monnaie-theater, Flemish Radiochoir and Orchestra, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, …
Since 1999 he is Principal Organist at the Sint-Gillis Church in Bruges where he plays the world famous Bachorgan. He teaches organ at Luca, School of Arts (former ‘Lemmensinstituut), is professor harpsichord at the Flemish side of the Brussels Conservatory where he’s also accompanist at the French Early Music Department. In spring 2018 he’ll be finishing his doctoral research about the Claviorganum at Luca, School of Arts.
Lately he has dedicated more time to conducting ensembles, choirs and orchestra. This has already resulted in remarkable performances as (guest conductor) and he is frequently asked as coach of various choirs and orchestras. In 2015 he was asked to be assistant-conductor of Kenneth Montgomery with the ‘Orchestra of the 18th Century’ for ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ and was first prize-winner of the Conductors Competition in Romania (Cluj). Besides this, he is Artistic Director of the orchestra X-travaganza (classical and symphonic orchestra), Ensemble ‘BachPlus’ (period instruments) and Capriola di Gioia (baroque ensemble with his wife, soprano Amaryllis Dieltiens).
https://www.bartnaessens.com/